Feds deny Chinese drywall request

TAMPA - Florida isn't going to be getting help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in assessing damage caused by corrosive Chinese drywall.

A FEMA official says the state's request doesn't meet the federal criteria for an emergency or major disaster. Florida officials wrote the agency last week asking the federal agency for help with a preliminary damage assessment and cash for affected homeowners.

State officials were instead directed to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which plans to make money available to homeowners.

During the height of the housing boom, American construction companies imported millions of pounds of the defective drywall between 2004 and 2008 because it was abundant and cheap.